[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 83 (Tuesday, June 21, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1309-E1310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             DEMAND FOR FREEDOM ALIVE IN PUNJAB, KHALISTAN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 21, 2005

  Mr. TOWNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to take note of the 
demonstrations in Punjab, Khalistan that surrounded the 21st 
anniversary of the Indian government's attack on the Golden Temple. 
Groups such as Dal Khalsa and others marched through the streets of 
Amritsar, converging at the Golden Temple for a big rally, according to 
The Times of India. They carried posters of Sant Jarnail Singh 
Bhindranwale, a Sikh freedom leader killed in the Golden Temple 
attacks, as well as posters of the demolished Golden Temple.
  As you know, the Indian government also attacked 125 other 
Gurdwaras--Sikh places of worship--at the same time. Over 20,000 Sikhs 
were killed. The Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, was shot full 
of bullet holes. Sikh boys between the ages of 8 and 13 were shot on 
the premises.
  Former Member of Parliament Simranjit Singh Mann said that the only 
way to assuage the wounds of the attack is by freeing Khalistan, the 
Sikh homeland. Another speaker said that the movement to free Khalistan 
is by peaceful means. Khalistan declared its independence from India in 
1997. That is now eight years ago.
  Police and intelligence operatives were surreptitiously watching this 
peaceful demonstration. Apparently, 21 years after the Golden Temple 
attack, the Sikhs' demand for freedom still frightens them.
  India claims it is democratic, Mr. Speaker, yet it sends police to 
spy on a peaceful demonstration. In January, 35 Sikhs were arrested for 
raising the Sikh flag and making speeches. The Movement Against State 
Repression reports that over 52,000 Sikhs are political prisoners in 
``the world's largest democracy.'' More than a quarter of a million 
Sikhs have been murdered, according to figures compiled from the Punjab 
State Magistracy.
  Sikhs are only one of India's targets. Other minorities such as 
Christians, Muslims, and others have also been subjected to tyrannical 
repression. More than 300,000 Christians have been killed in Nagaland, 
and thousands elsewhere in the country. Over 900,000 Kashmir Muslims, 
at least 2,000 to 5,000 Muslims in Gujarat, and thousands of other 
Muslims, have been victims of India's tyranny. And tens of thousands of 
people in Assam, Bodoland, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, and around the country, 
as well as countless Dalit ``Untouchables'' have been killed as well.
  Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. We must take a stand for freedom 
for all, as the President committed us to doing in January. The time 
has come to stop all our aid and trade with India, to end our 
burgeoning military cooperation, and to demand the peaceful resolution 
of the situation in South Asia through a free and fair plebiscite for 
all the national groups there.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to put the Times of India article about the 
demonstration into the Record at this time.

                [From the Times of India, Jun. 6, 2005]

                Khalistan Demand Raised on Genocide Day

                           (By Yudhvir Rana)

       Amritsar.--The pent up secessionist emotions of Sikh 
     radicals whipped up on the Genocide Day observed as Ardas 
     Divas at Akal Takht on Monday, as a large number of Sikh 
     youth including women brandishing naked swords raised slogans 
     for Sikh's independent state Khalistan while passing 
     pejorative remarks against SAD-Badal president Parkash Singh 
     Badal and SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur for not coming up to 
     the aspirations of Sikhs and addressing their problems.
       The ferocity of slogans multiplied after Sikh radical 
     leader Simranjit Singh Mann, president of SAD (Amritsar) 
     announced that Sikhs's hurt feelings could only be assuaged 
     when Sikhs independent state Khalistan comes into existence. 
     He suggested that Khalistan could be created on the buffer 
     zone between India and Pakistan.
       Baba Harnam Singh, 15th chief of Damdami Taksal joined 
     Simranjit Singh Mann with his arms wielding supporters and 
     announced to observe the martyrdom day of Sant Jarnail Singh 
     Bhinderanwalae at Taksal's headquarters at Gurdwara 
     Gurdarshan Parkash, Chowk Mehta on June 12.
       The radical activists including from Dal Khalsa, Dal 
     Khalsa, SAD(A), Damdami Taksal, Sikh Students Federation 
     (Bittu), Akal Federation jointly put up the board of 
     Shaheedee Gallery at the gallery situated outside Akal Takht 
     against the wishes of SGPC. A large number of Sikhs and 
     converged at Akal Takht on the 21st anniversary of Operation 
     Bluestar.
       Posters of demolished Akal Takht, Sikh militant leaders and 
     pamphlet on the life of Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwalae were 
     distributed among Sikh sangat.
       A large number of policemen in plain clothes and sleuths of 
     various intelligence agencies were hovering around the Akal 
     Takht and its surrounding. A police officer of DSP rank 
     remained present among Sikh sangat sitting in front of Akal 
     Takht during the ceremony.

[[Page E1310]]

       Earlier Parkash Singh Badal and Bibi Jagir Kaur condemned 
     congress government for rubbing salt to the wounds of Sikhs. 
     About the postponement of foundation stone alying ceremony of 
     Yadgara-e-Shaheedan, Badal said the foundation stone would be 
     laid once its design was approved.
       Justifying the demand of Khalistan, Jagjit Singh Chauhan, a 
     Khalistan ideologue said that they would peruse their mission 
     through peaceful democratic means.
       Jathedar of Akal Tkaht, Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti 
     presented siropas's to Ishar Singh, Mata Pritam Kaur son and 
     wife of Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwalae and relatives of other 
     martyrs. Earlier addressing the gathering he said it was 
     unfortunate that even after 21 years of Operation Bluestar, 
     the central government has not condemned the incident nor 
     those responsible for the 1984 anti Sikh riots have been 
     brought to books and Operation Bluestar was a black chapter 
     in the history of Independent India. The Sikhs had laid down 
     their lives under the aegis of Sant Jarnail Singh 
     Bhinderanwalae to protect the sanctity of gurdhams.
       Meanwhile Damdami Taksal presented photographs of Jarnail 
     Singh, Amrik Singh, Shubeg Singh and Thara Singh to Jathedar 
     of Akal Takht Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti for displaying 
     them in the gallery. Vedanti however asked them to 
     contemplate over their request. Meanwhile chief spokesperson 
     of Damdami Taksal. Bhai Mohkam Singh said that they also 
     performed ardas at the gallery's gate. He said panth would 
     decide if there was no desirable reply from Jathedar.
       On the other hand SAD(A) had demanded to display the 
     photograph of Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwalae at central Sikh 
     Museum, handing over of personal belongings of Bhinderanwale 
     by his family, Taksal and Army to panth without any 
     conditions, naming the road between Sri Guru Arjun Dev Niwas 
     to Sri Hargobind Niwas on Sant Jarnail Singh Marg, setting up 
     of a Sant Jarnail Singh Dharmik Vidya Kendar and beginning of 
     Shaheed Bhai Amrik Singh Award for those schools helping to 
     check apostism among Sikhs and General Shubeg Sigh Award to 
     promote traditional sports.

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